17 Year Old Rhinoplasty/septoplasty - Riverside, CA

Every since I was small I have always suffered...

9 Jul 2014

12 days pre

Every since I was small I have always suffered with an ugly nose and I hated it, I've been asked if I broke it or hit it but I was just unfortunately born with it. I never realized that I had trouble breathing until a year ago, as a result I had X-rays done which revealed that I have a deviated septum. As said I am 17 and I've been wanting this procedure since I was 15 but I had to wait. I went to two doctors before and one of them wanted me to have the surgery the following week after seeing him for the first time which I thought was sketchy so I looked up reviews and I cancelled the surgery, then I went to another doctor that wanted me to have the surgery while during school, I personally do not want to miss school as it is my last and most important year so I tried to schedule it earlier but there were not available spots. Finally I decided to go with dr. Hardesty he had an opening available and was so kind and he knows what he was doing. He made me feel comfortable, safe and secure also he was recommended by a family member. So today I had my pre op appointment where they told me all the info and how to prepare and I couldn't be more excited, I am nervous but the whole staff and Dr. hardesty made me feel super comfortable about it. He prescribed me an anti nausea patch (I was afraid of getting nausea) and sleeping aid so I can sleep comfortably at night along with all the usual pain medications and supplements. Surgery is in less than 2 weeks , so excited!!

A little update

17 Jul 2014

4 days pre

Though I'd add more pictures, I'm 5 days away! I'm more excited than nervous. I noticed many here had to buy bromelain and arnica, my doctor is awesome because he provided them for me. I start taking the bromelain in two days, I looked on the list provided in the comments and it has been very helpful I'm going shopping tomorrow for supplies. I cleaned my room but I still have to disinfect everything top to bottom. The only thing I'm worried about is no Air conditioning, inland empire during summer=nasty heat and I don't have air conditioning in my room only in the living room but I know by then I wouldn't care if it's hot or not , I would be so happy because of my new nose! Ahaha

SURGERY TOMORROW

21 Jul 2014

1 day pre

so excited and nervous at the same time! It's tomorrow at 6am!! Wooooo let's do this!

Back home

22 Jul 2014

Day of treatment

Surgery went well I'm falling in and out of sleep lol woooo will update more later

surgery and what went down

23 Jul 2014

1 day post

So yesterday I woke up and got into these new cute pjs I bought to feel as comfortable as possible and on the way there I took anti-anxiety medication (they gave me the green light for it) started to feel relaxed and oozy when we got there and my mom filled out paperwork for me. So they called me back had me change clothes and they made me wear anti blood clot stockings or something and then they put this heating blanket on me. Then I had to pee in a cup, I'm assuming that's the pregnancy test? But yeah, The nurse put the IV in and it wasn't too bad, then I met all the nurses and staff that would be in the operating room with my doctor. They explained what they were going to do, my doctor prayed with my mom and I and by that point my mom had to go. So then they gave me this steroid that was suppose to help ease my stomach during surgery and stuff.They were all really kind and at one point I was like "I love the show scrubs" and they laughed ahahah. So after that a nurse wheeled me in the operating room and that's when I started getting a little nervous but was still okay. They moved me to another bed and and the anesthesiologist said he was going to inject something in my IV that wasn't the anestia yet, which by me knocking out soon after I'm pretty sure it was and he just didn't want to scare me ahahah. My mom said I was gone for almost 3 hours and I woke up in the recovery room and all I remember saying was That was feeling sick so they gave me meds in my IV again then after about half an hour when I was fully awake they said I could go home and I was wheeled into a wheel chair to the car. The rest of the day was a blur since I kept falling asleep I've never slept so much lol or pee I'm still peeing like crazy dunno why. I didn't start eating untill about 4 hours after I got home and it was light. Started to feel pain so I took my meds and that night I started to swell but it's pretty controllable at this point. Apple sauce is my BFF and so is water and 7 up and soup tastes so good. I've been bleeding a lot and I hope it stops cause I'm getting those nasty crusties. I can already notice the difference and I'm so happy and glad with my doctor and staff, top notch! I have a checkup on Thursday

Day 2

23 Jul 2014

1 day post

Pretty much the same as yesterday except I'm not as drowsy anymore, I'm walking around and eating a lot more. The bleeding had stopped a little but my eyes have gotten a bit swollen, what I have learned from this is to be patient ahah but so far I'm definetly loving my nose right now, so worth it.

Day 3/4

25 Jul 2014

3 days post

I think day three was the hardest for me I was dealing with the same thing so it was just a boring cycle. But I did go to my first post op appointment and they said everything is going well and I get my splinters off in Tuesday and my cast and tubes out next thurs, can't wait I'm so bored being in bed ahahah this morning I woke up with a lot of pain but it has gone away now, feeling more like myself :)

Day3/4

25 Jul 2014

3 days post

Day5

27 Jul 2014

5 days post

I feel completely normal now it only feels like I have a stuffy nose, and my throat still hurts from the tube but I do everything I would normally do in the day, I have showered twice and I stopped taking the

day 5 cont

27 Jul 2014

5 days post

my review got cut off ahaha anywho i stopped taking the pain meds and switched to regular telynol because my nose doesnt hurt as bad anymore. My bruising is going away and so is my swelling. Ive been drinking tons of water and have lost weight hahaha. My nose is looking so good right now I cant wait to take the cast off. Already have plans to go see a movie the day i get the cast off ahah. Im dying to go somewhere. My doctor was amazing, definitely recommend to anyone. The only thing that's bad though is that ive been sneezing .

Pictures for day 5

27 Jul 2014

5 days post

Sorry about me falling off the face of the earth ahah

2 Aug 2014

11 days post

I've been so busy and finally have time to update I got my cast taken off two days ago and stitches taken off 4 days ago along with the tube in my nose. I would have updated but the day I got my stitches and tubes taken out my blood pressure got really low and I fainted while at the doctors office, I'm okay and everything is fine now :) now onto the cast! I got it off Thursday and it hurt my nose was so sore and sensitive and I didn't want the doctor to touch it at all Hahah I liked what I saw but didn't love the side view cause I had this little bump fortunately It when away I'm pretty sure it was just swelling but yeah I still have the sticky glue on my nose and I have to keep it taped as much as possible so the residue stays at least for awhile, my nose isn't perfect right now but it is way better than before and I know it is very swollen! I went out for the first time without my cast or tape yesterday and I felt so confident and loved it! I also got contacts so I could see!! The whole tape glasses on the forehead didn't work for me and I didn't find cheek rests so I settled for contacts :) I'll include pictures of everything, thanks for following! And sorry for my lack of updates!

More Pictures from today

2 Aug 2014

11 days post

I ice my nose a little when I have the tape off I out an ice cube in a napkin and I just dab very lightly I don't know if that's okay Haha but I just want my swelling to go down

17 days post op

8 Aug 2014

17 days post

I'm doing great! My nose is still swollen especially at the tip but even then I love it. My scar is more noticeable though :/ like an x by my nostrils :/ I hope it fades a little. No one ever told me about the horrible boogies you get ahaha but I have had phlem and nasties but it's tolerable my nose is still healing on the inside.

Almost 5 weeks post op and back in school

24 Aug 2014

1 month post

I'm back in school! My nose is healing well!! No more nasty boogies! It's still sensitive to touch and I've been breaking out on my nose which has never happened to me, I think it's because when I exfoliate my face I'm very gentle on my nose because it's sensitive, and I don't scrub it well enough. Swelling is still there especially at the end of the day, don't forget to tape ever! I'm scared to excerise but I really want to ahaha but yeah I'm loving my nose and slowly getting used to it. I sleep normal now, and I can blow my nose a little and I'm very happy!!! I have another post op apointment the 26 before my last one which is in October :) a week of discomfort and very little pain is definetly worth the confidence boost, I feel pretty for the first time in my life, this is life changing I love it!

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24 Aug 2014

1 month post

I love how my nose fits my face sometimes I wish I had Jessica alba's nose or some other famous celebrity, but their noses fit their faces and my nose fits my face. It's really neat to think how each person ( no matter if it's fake or not) had a nose specifically made for them. Yes, I showed my doctor pictures of noses I wanted and he did come close, but I knew it wasnt going to be exactly like theirs. I love how my surgeon specifically made a nose for me and one that goes well with the rest of my face, it's great! What my point is, I think a lot of people expect to come out looking like celebrities. That's not the case, you come out looking like a better version of yourself which is way better. I love my nose and I'm so thankful and thank you all for the kind words!

Very welcoming and made me feel safe and secure about having the surgery. I am very excited and I know he will do a great job, staff is excellent!! They all know what they're doing. My nose looks so beautiful so far and he was always enthusiastic and warm. I don't know of many doctors caring about their patients like he has cared. Talented at what he does and very kind. He made sure my experience was as painless as possible and made sure I was okay! I am so thankful!!! If I decide to do more procedures in the future I'm definetly going to him, I already have recommended family members and will recommend friends! The best doctor!